A local farmer has won a multimillion-dollar federal contract that will put his fruits and vegetables in the hands and mouths of more students and military workers in Florida. The Defense Logistics Agency recently awarded Oakes Farms Food & Distribution Services in Naples a contract with a value of up to $46.8 million.
Alfie Oakes, owner and founder of Oakes Farms, at one of his packing houses
"It's good growth for us. It's good, solid business," said Alfie Oakes, owner of Oakes Farms, who beat out three other bidders. "This is the first time the contract has ever been given to someone who is an actual grower. We are a grower and a distributor. We are vertically integrated, so we kind of do it all."
Oakes won a similar contract last year: in October 2017, Oakes Farms was awarded a similar contract for the southern region of Florida, which includes Southwest Florida. That contract is valued at up to $40 million.
Oakes hopes to win a third contract covering the central region of Florida, which is coming up for bid. "That would give us the whole state," he said.
Source: eu.naplesnews.com
